1. How would you ensure Salt Lake City is not left with a budget shortfall after the expenses of hosting the 2002 Winter Games, while at the same time making sure the city puts on its best face for the world?Salt Lake City faces three potential categories of liability with respect to the Olympic games: (1) Contractual liability for Salt Lake City's commitment to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to put on the games; (2) Tort liability for injuries; and (3) Additional costs incurred for city services such as police and fire protection and garbage collection. After the games are held, under the management and supervision of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC), the contractual responsibility to the IOC will have been fulfilled. Potential tort liability will be covered by a $ 1 00 million liability insurance policy, to be purchased by SLOC. Under the terms of all contracts between SLOC and Olympic vendors, the vendors acknowledge that neither the State of Utah nor Salt Lake City will have any liability under those contracts.
Salt Lake City will incur approximately $20 million in costs for Olympic-related city services. Although Olympic-related revenues to the state and local governments, including sales taxes, will far exceed the costs for city services during the Olympics, the Utah Legislature has not yet provided for a fair distribution of those revenues. Presently, non-venue cities and counties are slated to receive 60% of all Olympic-related government revenues, yet Salt Lake City is expected to receive only 6% of such revenues, which will total about $5.6 million.
As Mayor, I will make certain that Salt Lake City's Olympic-related expenses are covered by (1) negotiating a fair allocation of Olympic-related government revenues, such as sales taxes,, so that venue cities recover their costs and investments before non-venue cities and counties receive a windfall from such revenues; (2) reasonably increasing tourist taxes, such as the transient hotel room tax, for a few weeks before, during and after the Olympics; and (3) working with Congress to appropriate funds for security and fire protection during the 2002 games. If the Utah State Legislature will not fairly allocate Olympic-related government revenues to cover Salt Lake City's costs before non-venue counties receive a share of such revenues, I will move to shift responsibility for the games to the State of Utah. If the Legislature insists on the state and non-venue counties receiving the benefits of the Olympics before Salt Lake City recoups its investment, then they should bear the risks as well.
2. Do you approve of Police Chief Ruben Ortega's approach to fighting crime, both violent and non-violent? What would you do differently?
Police Chief Ruben Ortega has badly damaged the morale of the Salt Lake City Police Department. In a survey, over 80% of responding officers indicated they do not have confidence in his leadership. As he did while he was Chief of Police in Phoenix, Chief Ortega has engaged in discriminatory discipline and he has sought
retaliation against those, including journalists and police union officials, who have criticized his leadership. In the title of one article in an Arizona publication, Chief Ortega was characterized as "Phoenix's Own J. Edgar Hoover." Because our police officers demand and deserve better leadership, I will make certain they have it.
Chief Ortega has not had a coherent plan for fighting crime. Our officers are using radios issued in the 1970s; they do not receive adequate training; and it often takes far too long for an officer to respond to an urgent call. Contrary to his recent claim of having hired an "additional" 100 police officers, he has not even averaged a net of seven new officers a year. Further, during Ortega's tenure, the composition of the police department does not reflect the diversity of our community. As Mayor, I will (1) provide better, morale-building leadership for our police officers; (2) undertake a vigorous police recruitment and promotion program for members of our minority communities; (3) provide our police with the tools, technology and training they need to most effectively do their job; (4) better coordinate community policing with the rest of the department; (5) provide an 811 or 311 dispatch system, so that those who are calling with non-
emergency matters will not resort to calling 911; (6) institute a highly-publicized campaign, offering rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those who illegally sell, or offer to sell, guns or drugs in our city; and (7) charge our new police chief to aggressively pursue a no-tolerance campaign against the
illegal sale and possession of guns. In addition to addressing the crucial problems of law enforcement, as Mayor I will focus on the "front-end" solutions that will not only reduce crime but also build better lives and families. In collaboration with schools, churches and other community organizations, I will tap the tremendous volunteer base we have in our city and implement city-wide after-school, summer, job training, and employment placement programs for our youth. That positive approach will be less expensive in the long run, and far more constructive, than simply focusing on the "back-end" of crime.
3. Do you agree with the City Council that 9 percent of general fund revenues should go toward improving the city's infrastructure, whatever the state of the budget? In a tight budget year, which would you sacrifice first, services such as police or infrastructure improvement?
I agree that at least 9 percent of general fund revenues should go toward improving the city's infrastructure. For far too long, our city's infrastructure needs have been ignored, while taxpayer money has been spent on an increasingly large bureaucracy and favors for campaign contributors. With proper spending priorities, Salt Lake City will never be in the position of having to choose between public safety or infrastructure repair and maintenance. However, if the only choice were between providing for all public safety needs or all infrastructure needs, I would not sacrifice or compromise public safety.
4. How would you change the city's general approach to rehabilitating the Gateway area west of downtown? Specifically, do you agree with the $17 million in tax increment money and $13 million in infrastructure improvements promised to the Boyer Co. to assist its mixed-use development in the Gateway?
I am very supportive of the mixed use development known as the Bridges Project. That project will convert a significant portion of West Second South to affordable housing, a Buddhist Temple, a community auditorium and retail shops and services. However, I believe that before tax money is diverted to developers like the Boyer Co., and before any further amounts are spent for infrastructure improvements for the Gateway project, we should do everything possible to re-invigorate our downtown area. I want to make certain that long-time, loyal businesses like Lamb's Restaurant and Sam Weller's Books are able to continue doing business in our downtown area, while encouraging new businesses to fill our boarded-up blocks. As Mayor, I will immediately take action to provide better, more convenient parking in the downtown area and to attract more people to the area by making it more interesting, vibrant and fun.
Any tax monies paid or credited to developers under the guise of "redevelopment" should eventually be paid back to the city, on a schedule that is adjusted according to the success of the development.
5. What is your opinion of the planned expansion of the Salt Lake International Airport?
The planned expansion of the Salt Lake International Airport should depend on (1) whether Delta Airlines is earnest with respect to its recent threat to relocate if there is an increase in fees at the airport, and (2) whether, with changes in the law, Salt Lake City could benefit from revenues generated by airport operations. Delta's recent threat to relocate if lease rates are increased is difficult to understand, particularly because the per-passenger cost of operating out of Salt Lake City is much less expensive than most airports in this region. For instance, the 1998 per-passenger cost at the Salt Lake City International Airport was $3.95, while the per-passenger cost in Denver's new airport was $18. In the face of Delta's threat, the expansion probably should be delayed. Also, the possibility of Salt Lake City obtaining some of the funds from airport operations should be fully explored. If the proposed expansion of the airport would preclude the possibility of Salt Lake
City receiving some of the financial benefits of operating the airport, we should limit the expansion, at least at this time.
6. Will you raise taxes or fees during your administration?
I will not raise property taxes during my administration unless there is a finding by the City Council that an increase is absolutely necessary and no other options are available. I would favor a temporary increase in certain tourist taxes, such as the transient hotel room tax, during the Olympics. I also believe that consideration should be given to a user fee for certain organizations that benefit from police and fire protection, and from other city services, but which do not pay taxes. I prefer non-regressive consumer taxes over property taxes.
7. Do you agree with the city's closure and sale of a block of Main Street to the LDS Church?
I do not agree with the city's closure and sale of a block of Main Street to the LDS Church at this time, nor do I agree with the way in which the closure and sale were accomplished. Everyone's interests would have been best served by open and honest public dialogue, including an unbiased assessment of traffic impacts.
Further, the closure of one block of Main Street should have been examined in the context of a long-range plan for the entire downtown area. This was not the appropriate time to close off Main Street. Many downtown businesses, as well as shoppers and commuters, are suffering because of the Main Street construction, the dearth of parking and the surrounding traffic chaos caused by several construction projects occurring simultaneously.
I have no doubt the area purchased by the LDS church will be maintained as a first-rate garden park, attracting tourists and providing a beautiful space for pedestrians in the heart of our downtown. However, we, the people of Salt Lake City, were entitled to inquire -- before our mayor worked out a "done deal"' -- whether
now is the time for the sale of the street and to discuss meaningfully whether the sale to the LDS Church, particularly with the restrictions relating to public access, is appropriate and beneficial to the entire community.
8. Are you pro-development?
I am "pro-development," if by that term is meant the reinvigoration of our downtown area and the development of affordable housing throughout our community. I would like to see more developments like Art Space and the Bridges Project and far fewer cookie-cutter strip malls.
9. Do you agree with the general concept of west-east light rail, and specifically its 400 South alignment?
I would prefer to utilize small shuttle buses along high-occupancy vehicle lanes to determine if our transportation needs could be met, at least in the short-term. I do not favor a light rail spur to the airport from downtown at this point in time; there is a far greater need for mass transit from West Valley City and West Jordan to downtown, then to the University of Utah and the U. Medical Center. If a University light rail spur is to be constructed, it makes most sense for it to follow a business corridor like 4th and 5th South, but it should not be built there if businesses and residents will be harmed. I once thought it would be wise to have light rail go up 300 South, but residents on that quiet street have convinced me otherwise.
10. Why should people vote for you?
I work hard, and effectively, to solve problems and to take advantage of opportunities. I am honest and straightforward, even when I know that some may disagree with me. I am the only candidate who has worked for years for campaign finance reform and am the only major mayoral candidate who has promised to limit campaign spending. I am the only candidate who addresses the need to focus on "front-end" solutions to crime, including effective drug-prevention programs, after-school and summer programs, and employment training and placement programs for our youth. And I am the only candidate who has worked effectively, at no charge, to put two killers behind bars. Most politicians only talk about crime; I have worked for many years to actually do something about it.
11. What is a quirky or unusual thing about you -- a hobby, incident, habit, skill or interest that people would be surprised to discover?
My home is always alive with animals, young people, and house-guests. My talkative yellow-naped Amazon parrot, Cardozo, and my golden retriever, Winston, are always cheerful and amusing. My 17 year-old son, Luke, and his friends are a constant joy in my life. And my house-guests -- friends, relatives and, most recently, a man released from prison who needed a break -- enrich and add color to my life. I always enjoy being home because there is so much warmth and interesting activity there.